AN: This is a looooooong one. Let Turnabout Creatures begin.

Prompt: Oh no, looks like the hero or partner been accused of a crime(that they may or may not have committed) and they have to go to court.


January 6, 9:40 AM District Court Defendant Lobby No. 2

(Why me…) I looked at my clients. (Why do I always have to get these weird cases? I've cross examined a parrot, defended an orca, which I ALSO cross examined. Had that one dream about magical ponies? But this one… This one takes the cake.)

"BOSS!" Athena brought me out of my stupor.

"Sorry Athena. Just… just letting everything settle in my mind."

She gave me her signature smile. "I know, right? Those two look so cool! Although, I don't get why the kitsune is in a suit."

"It doesn't seem to like being in it either." I replied as the fox creature tugged in the suit to adjust it. "Did it always wear the suit?"

Athena opened the case folder which was given to us ten minutes earlier and shook her head. "Nada. Which makes me wonder why they have a suit for giant foxes in the first place."

(It shouldn't surprise me if they've started making clothes because of all these weird clients and witnesses I seem to get. Probably just to make fun of me.)

The two creatures were done talking and began to approach us. (Better show them I'm a good guy before they eat me.) I pulled out my freshly cleaned badge and showed it to them. "Hello. I'm - Phoenix - Wright. I'm - here - to - help - you." (What am I doing? Pretending to think they understand caveman speak.)

"We know. I asked for you to defend us. Now put that blinding thing away."

(Great, now I'm hearing voices in my head. Perfect day to lose my mind.)

"Boss, did you hear that as well?" Athena asked me and I just nodded.

"Telepathy is quite handy, no?" The fox let out a smug smile as a purple/blue-ish aura surrounded it. "I'm Blazewind and this is my partner, Summers." The nine tailed creature nodded towards the giant green plant lizard thing. "We're… monster hunters currently, I guess."

"You guess?" (This doesn't seem to bode well.)

"It's complicated. Point is, the thing we're hunting is most likely the killer, but good luck convincing people."

(I can agree that it seems like a tough sell.)

"So, why are you in a suit?" Athena asked, and the fox creature seemed to have anticipated the question.

"The guys who forced me in it said something about it being funny to see how the hedgehog lawyer would react."

"Just to clarify, I've not actually defended any hedgehogs." (Why does everyone compare me to one?)

"With your track record, then it's only a matter of time."

(Lovely.) "So, strange question, are you actually the mythical creature?"

"I'm what's called a ninetales, so no magical powers sadly. Summers here is what's called a grovyle."

"Ninetales and grovyle. So, where are you from?" Athena asked. Which was good, because then we could learn just a little more of who we're dealing with.

"Not from this world." Blazewind replied in a tone that made it think that we wouldn't believe it. Good call on its part, because that sounds even more crazy than the fact that two actual monsters are standing in front of me, holding a conversation with us.

"Can you spare me a minute, Athena?" I asked and she agreed. I turned around and started to whisper. "What is your impression of them?"

"They're both nervous, the grovyle more so. The ninetales is unusually excited as well. Should we inquire about why?" Athena's emotion sensitivity powers strikes once again.

"No. Let us wrap this conversation up so we can go through our material before we begin. Don't think the excitement is relevant to the case." We turned back around to our clients. I placed a hand in one of my pockets and held tight around the object inside of it. "One final question. A gauge of trust: Did you, or did you not kill the victim." (Now magatama, do your magic.)

"We didn't kill him. We didn't even touch him." The ninetales' response was extremely serious, and the magatama didn't react at all. Then again, I haven't actually tried to use it in response to a telepathic answer, so it may not have worked regardless. But now was not time for doubting.

"Okay, I believe you." I responded. "Now, let me and my assistant go through the case file and evidence."

Blazewind nodded and started a conversation in this weird speaking pattern with her partner. (I wonder if they know they're just saying their species name in different permutations.)


January 6, 10:00 AM District Court Courtroom No. 4

The normal murmurs were extra loud today and all eyes were either fixated on my clients or on myself. Having gone through everything available to me, things didn't look good. It would require an easy opponent if I want to stand a chance. (Please be a Payne, please be a Payne, please be a Payne.)

The sound of heels hit the floor on the other side of the court as a cold chill ran down my spine. "Well, if it isn't the spiky fool with a new foolish assisting fool."

"Franziska von Karma," (This will be a pain…) "It's been a while, and I see your vocabulary hasn't improved."

Her signature whip slams my desk as she glares at me. "Let that be a warning for whenever you open your foolish mouth to utter foolish things again."

"Boss, are you just going to take that?" Athena asked, the poor innocent soul.

"If you have any objections, be free to get whipped in the face." I replied as the Judge sat down and picked up his gavel.

"Order in the courtroom. The trial of…" He paused as he looked at my clients. "Mr. Wright, is this some sort of joke?"

(Oh, I wish.) "No your honor. It is not."

"Very well. The trial regarding the murder of Brut Al Victi will now commence." Then an animalistic groan could be heard from the defendant seat as Blazewind looked annoyed. "Does the… uh… defendant have anything to say?"

Blazewind sighed and shook her head.

"Very well. Is the prosecution ready?"

"Such a fool to ask such a foolish question."

"The defense is also ready, your honor." I said, just wanting to get this over with.

"With both parties ready, will the prosecution begin their opening statement."

Franziska bowed with a wicked smile. "With pleasure."


Long story short, the prosecution suggests Mr Victi got into a fight with the defendants, an initial hit from Summers forcing him to retreat with the defendants chasing him. In a desperate attempt to protect himself, he picked up a ladder to defend himself. Suffice to say, swinging a big object like that around didn't help, and after a solid slash in the back, he fell over, dead on the spot.

"And here is the picture of the scene of the crime after the murderers were taken away." Franziska finished.

"OBJECTION!" The voice of Blazewind echoed through my mind.

"What was that?!" Judge looked around, holding his gavel close.

"That would be the telepathic powers of the suited defendant, your honor." I replied.

"Wh-wh-what is your objection?"

"That's a step-ladder. There is a fundamental difference, and I refuse the court to mistake the two."

"Looks like we have another on Team Stepladder, boss." Athena smiled.

(That's fine and all, but this won't help us win, Athena.)

"So, you have no objections to the prosecution's statements?" Judge asked.

"Oh, I completely disagree with her on us being the culprits, but if the prosecution wants to be wrong, I want them to be wrong with the correct terminology."

The sound of angry whip filled the room as Blazewind ducked and Summers casually dodged the attack. "Be quiet, fool!" Franziska was as snappy as always.

"Also, why is it fine for the prosecutor to attack the defendants? Isn't there a law against assault? Anyone?"

(Your honor, why are you sweating bullets?)

"To further corroborate the story from the officers present at the scene is Detective Ema Skye."


"Witness, state your name and occupation." Franziska said as Ema stepped up on the witness stand.

"Hi Phoenix!" She waved at me with a pack of snackoos in her hand.

"Ema, I'm going to have a hard time, just do what Franziska says, lest you want to get whipped." (And stop eating while on the stand!)

"Alright, party pooper. Ema Skye, forensic detective."

"Detective, please describe to the court what the officers of your precinct saw on that day." Franziska's smug smile was almost unbearable.

"Fiiine." was Ema's response.


Witness Testimony- What the officers saw -

"Two patrolling officers heard some loud screams from an alleyway and immediately hurried over to see what happened." "When they arrived they saw the two creatures standing in the pool of blood of the victim."

"HOLD IT! So you're saying that they only saw them standing over the body. So they could have just been the first witnesses." (Well, this could be easier than I thought.)

"That… That is a very good point." Then Ema got struck by the whip.

"Why would those foolish creatures stand in the blood pool if they hadn't just finished the deed?" Franziska responded.

"Because seeing a dead body makes people do irrational things?" She glared at me for the mere suggestion.

"But these are creatures. They saw something to kill, attacked the victim and sliced his back open with three swift strikes."

"Actually, that makes me wonder. How did they do it?" It was something that made me question why the two were arrested in the first place… Well, aside from the fact that they were animal-like creatures who for some reason got arrested. "They don't have any claws or wielding something sharp."

Franziska chuckled. "Detective, if you may?"

"Right!" Ema perked up. "Here is some footage from one of the officers' body cameras, cut down to the relevant part."

We all saw the video. In it the police announced themselves, weapons raised. The two turned around before Summers made an energy blade from the leaves on one of his arms when Blazewind in shock made him put it away again. Or at least, that was the impression I got from it. (Well… That is troublesome, but it might actually help our case.) I looked at the two, and Summers seemed to silently apologize to me.

"As you can see, the creatures can create swords from nowhere. This would also explain why they weren't covered in blood after three clean strikes." Franziska stood triumphantly. "Just admit your defeat, and we can end this foolish charade!"

"Not quite." I said. "Detective, could you continue your testimony."

"Gladly."

"From the looks of it, it seemed the victim had been hurt at first and ran away, but was chased." "He then picked up the nearby ladder to defend himself." "Alas, it wasn't enough and he got sliced in the back by three precise strikes."

"Boss, I don't know about you, but there is something off about this." Athena said as Ema was done.

"Which are you referring to?" (It isn't just off, it's two glaring contradictions.)

"You know, that piece which obviously doesn't fit."

"I know, but I'm really asking you which you're talking about."

Athena smiled and did her signature fist into palm motion. "As expected from the boss. Now, let's point them out!"


Cross Examination- What the officers saw -

"Detective, could you please repeat what you said about how the encounter played out?" I asked her, to which she nodded.

"From the looks of it, it seemed the victim had been hurt at first and ran away, but was chased, I believe were my words."

"OBJECTION!" With my finger pointing proudly I looked at my junior. "Would you take this one?"

"That's the one which I noticed, so gladly." The young woman cleared her throat. "If everyone would direct your attention to this picture." She brought out the picture of the crime scene. "These spots of red in this part are blood droplets belonging to the victim, correct?"

"We tested them thrice to be certain." Ema said.

"What is your problem with these drops of blood, Ms. Sykes?" Judge asked.

"Well, it's simple. While a bit hard to notice, the droplets become smaller and end further apart the farther away from the victim they are."

"What is this foolish line of thinking?"

"Well, two possibilities, really. The first one is, that the victim's wound somehow got worse rapidly as he was running away, despite not getting hurt anymore, or…" She held a dramatic pause. "The real culprit, bloodied by the murder was running away from the body, whatever blood on their weapon falling off as they got away, which is why there is less blood the further it gets from the scene of the crime."

"OBJECTION!" Franziska had something to say, apparently. "You fools cannot just make up another culprit. Besides, the foolish defendants have shown to just materialize bladed weapons. Clearly it's easier to explain that it's them who did the deed."

"Actually, I have a problem or two with that argument." I said, leading the conversation to a position to my advantage. (Because the way Summers can make that weapon is not consistent with reality.)

"Well then, Mr. Wright. What is your problem with the argument?" The judge asked, so I could deliver.

"Let us consider what the detective stated earlier." I said and asked the scribe to read aloud the last part of Ema's testimony.

"Alas, it wasn't enough and he got sliced in the back by three precise strikes."

"From what Ema and what the prosecution argues, is that the victim was hit thrice by one of my clients." The judge nodded as I set up my argument.

"Now, if you would look at how the wounds are on the victim." A picture of the victim was shown, with three swipes across the back, each clearly made from left to right. "To make something like this, three extremely consistent hits would be required, to the point of impossible."

The judge nodded. "I will agree. To hit someone like that three times he had to stand completely still as he got struck. Are you saying he didn't die from those slashes?"

"No, he definitely died from them. What I'm saying is, the three slashes were simultaneous, either from a three bladed weapon or another creature similar to my clients."

Franziska grumbled something before she smiled. "Alright, how would this murdering creature look like then?"

"Well, I… uhm…" (Crap.)

"So you've just foolishly wasted the court's time as always."

"Well… uh…" (What can I do? No, wait, I know.) "My clients can, however. As the guards in the lobby can confirm, they claims to be monster hunters which is after whatever killed Mr. Victi."

"You think I would be so foolish as to believe those… things?"

"Isn't it only fair to also hear my defendants' side of the story as well?"

"Fine. I will allow this foolish errand. If for nothing but to make my victory that much sweeter."

"Well, since the prosecution has no objections, can the defendants get to the witness stand?"


"Now fools, your name and occupation!"

"Blazewind and Summers, normally world explorers, but now acting as monster hunters."

"And you're saying that the monster you're hunting is what killed Mr. Victi?" The judge wanted in on the action.

"Yes, that is right."

"Please describe everything about this monster."


Witness Testemony- Monster -

"The creature we're hunting is a flying cloaked creature with sharp claws."

"HOLD IT! What do they look like under the cloak?"

"Like nothing. They are the cloak. Their claws are extremely dangerous though, as the group we're working with would confirm, were they here."

"And they can fly?"

"So high that they would be out of sight. They go to that height whenever they're just… looking."

"I see."

"Their goals differ depending on where we find them." "Sometimes they just look, other times they steal artifacts." "This is the first time they've actively just gone ahead and murdered someone which baffles me."

"HOLD IT! Then how do you know their claws are as dangerous as you previously stated."

"They have a tendency to try and stop us from stopping them."

"How do you stop them?"

"We've been ordered to just scare them enough so they run away. From what we have gathered, whoever that has gathered us is tracking them as they retreat."

(Well, that got me nothing.)

"To summarize it, those things are highly dangerous."

"HOLD IT! And you say that you really don't know why they killed the victim?"

"None, whatsoever." However, as she finished her statement, the magatama in my pocket started to react. The courtroom disappeared as three locks suspended by chains appeared. (Psyche Locks? But why would she lie?)

"Any problems, Mr. Wright?"

"..." This got annoying. "Athena, you sense anything?"

"Her emotions got muted for a moment there."

(Dammit.)

"I think we can say that this was a fool's errand. Your honor, if you may?"

"While we got some information, it doesn't seem to clear the defendants at all. I think we can call this trial now."

"OBJECTION!" (No! Not now. She is hiding something and I have a feeling that it will help turn this case around.) "Your honor, my client is lying and withholding important information from us. I ask to be allowed to delve deeper into her last statement."

"Any objections from the prosecution?"

"If the fool wants to dig his foolish grave deeper, then he can be my guest."


- Lies -

"So, Blazewind, care to explain?"

"Explain what?" Her demeanor had changed. She had become cold and emotionless. Something a lot of culprits had done shortly before their lies unraveled. What was she playing at?

"Well, it's easy. You know why they killed Mr. Victi."

"Why do you assume that?"

"Remember earlier when I asked if you killed the victim or not. Let's just say I have a special lie detector for certain problems. It just went off."

"That must be a real fancy lie detector then. Care to show me?"

I pulled out my magatama and as I did, a lock shattered.

"Oh, that's a pretty rock."

"Boss, she got a surge of excitement just now." Athena just confirmed that the fox creature in front of me knew a lot more than what she had let on.

"This is my lie detector."

"Which you hide inside a fancy rock?"

"No, it is the rock, and I think you know that?"

"How so?" Was she smirking?

"Simple. Just as you saw it, you had a powerful reaction, almost like you knew what it was beforehand." Then another lock shattered. (Those were surprisingly easy to break. Could it be that she is manipulating it somehow?) "And you also seem almost aware of how the thing works."

"If that was true, then why would I lie in a way to trigger it?"

"That, I don't know, but since you're aware of my magatama and how it works, then why not just drop all pretense and tell me what you know?"

"No, but let me give you a clue. I have already given you all the information you need to end this little game."

"All the information?" (What information? Actually, I think I have an idea of what she is talking about and I really don't like the answer.) "Previously you stated that they either observe or try to steal artifacts. It wasn't that they needed to kill Mr. Victi, they just needed someone dead, right?" Blazewind gave a sly smile, almost begging me to deal the finishing blow. "It was all for this moment. They're after my Magatama." Then the final lock shattered and Blaze gave what I assumed was a chuckle.

"Hold onto it tight, because they've been watching." Blaze seemed to relax. "But it's quite morbid that they went so far just to see your magic rock in action."

"While that was interesting, it still didn't actually prove anything. A fool's folly indeed." Franziska was gloating. "Your honor, before the fool will try another desperately foolish ploy."

"Quite. There is nothing more to be gained, so I hereby declare these two creatures for-"

A scream came from the hallway, followed by the door to the courtroom burst open, and a cloaked looking creature with sharp claws hovered for a moment before heading straight for me. I knew I had to dodge, but from the shock of it all, my body wouldn't react. I closed my eyes, preparing for the inevitable hit. Then I heard something get slammed into the floor. I opened my eyes to see Summers pinning the creature down.

(Well, I guess we win now.) "Your honor, I think we found the real culprit."

Summers gave a few more solid hits before he got thrown off, the thing pulling back before heading through the doors it came from as a vortex appeared before it. It went through the vortex which then closed, the creature gone.

"I… I'm not quite sure how to react to all this. But it seems like the fox creature spoke the truth. I think we can put an end to this case. I declare the defendants in the case of the murder of Brut Al Victi for: NOT GUILTY!"

"So, one last question before I'm getting a headache that will last the remainder of the day… Where does all the confetti come from?" Blazewind flinched as she finished, her face contorting uncomfortably.

(Guess telepathy is straining on the mind.)